# General Information:

Yahweh is speaking. In the ancient Near East, it was commonly believed that a nation's gods were responsible for military victory. It may have been believed that a god would not defend an evil city. The ULB sets poetry (6:1-30)farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry.

# Find safety ... by leaving Jerusalem

"Leave Jerusalem ... so that you can be safe"

# people of Benjamin

This is who Yahweh was speaking to.

# Blow a ram's horn in Tekoa

"Blow a ram's horn in Tekoa to warn the people that they will be attacked"

# Tekoa

"a horn for blowing". This is the name of a town about 18 kilometers south of Jerusalem.

# Raise up over Beth Hakkerem a signal

"Light a fire to send up smoke at Beth Hakkerem to warn people about the enemy coming" or "Raise up a flag over the town of Beth Hakkerem to warn people about the enemy coming"

# Beth Hakkerem

the name of a town about 10 kilometers south of Jerusalem. The name means "the place of the vineyard."

# wickedness is appearing from the north

"enemies will come from the north and cause disaster to happen to you"

# a great crushing is coming

"Enemies will come and destroy you"